Billy looked about the Park and Desantos' Academy lobby. He could not have predicted how his friends handled his news any more accurately. They had spilled inside into the lobby to avoid any eavesdropping. As soon as Billy had told them about Jason, they were beyond shocked.

"That's impossible," Tommy said, shaking his head as he slumped into a cushioned chair. His stomach weighed 1,000 pounds. "How … why … when?"

Across the room, Trini sank into the interior lobby window with Kimberly by her side, holding her hand. Kimberly wanted to say something but no words came to her. A dagger plunged deeper into Trini's heart. For a moment, she wondered if she was alive or dead. "I can't believe that," she whispered under her breath. No one else heard her.

"I know this is hard to except, but it is true," Billy consoled, gazing at each of them in turn.

"He and I are like brothers," Tommy said, staring into the floor. "I never expected he would do something like this."

"I wish I could say something that would help," Billy said, "But I can't."

Adam, who had remained at the front door, moved his gaze from Tommy to Trini. Of all of them, those two were taking the brunt of it. It made sense. Trini had been married to Jason for seven years while Tommy had been Jason's best friend ever since Tommy had moved to Angel Grove. Though it could have been a trick of the eye, Adam noticed Tommy's hand twitch momentarily. Plus, Tommy started looking a little lightheaded.

"I need some air," Tommy breathed, standing up. "Where is the backdoor?" He asked Rocky.

Adam straightened. Why not just go out the front door?

"This way," Rocky croaked, holding himself up as well as he could. He and Adam led the way up the hallway. Zack went to Trini, brushing her arm and guided her to the rest of the group. They made a left turn and then a right turn down the light beige hallway, passing several locker rooms—Tommy increasing his pace with each stride.

Throughout the "walk," Adam kept an eye on Tommy. This is not like Tommy; I've never seen him like this. Yet he voiced none of his opinions to the others.

At the end of the hallway was the exit. Tommy slammed it open, striding into the abandoned alley, his breath coming in hard gasps.

"Tommy, are you alright?" Rocky asked, taking a few steps towards him but Adam grasped Rocky's shoulder. Rocky turned.

"Wait," Adam whispered, caution and suspicion etched into his face.

At once, Tommy halted with his breath calm. He straightened his back, keeping it turned on the others.

"What's the matter?" Billy said, moving towards him, reaching out his hand.

Tommy spun around, clasping a hand around Billy's neck. "You are," he snarled with livid eyes.

Caught by surprise, Billy struggled to release Tommy's grip but it was too strong. "Tommy … stop…" he gasped. No other plea escaped his mouth.

"Tommy, stop!" Zack shouted as he, Rocky, and Adam rushed forward. At once, bolts of bluish lightning hit them and Trini, freezing them in place as if they were mannequins.

Seeing this, Tommy intensified his grip. "What did you do?" he growled, tightening his hand around Billy's throat—crushing around his Billy's windpipe.

Billy could not answer. He could no longer gasp. Billy opened his mouth, desperate for air, yet none descended into his lungs. He punched, scratched, pushed and tore at Tommy's hand. His face was purple. There was one last chance to free himself. He concentrated with all of his might, looking Tommy in the face. I must…have…air!

At once, Tommy was shoved backward, as if he had been hit by a blizzard gust. His fingers loosened. Billy coughed, swallowed a mouthful of air, and exhaled. But before he could inhale again, Tommy's hands clasped Billy's throat once more with greater strength than before. In a rage, Tommy slammed Billy backwards onto the pavement.

"How did you do that?" Tommy demanded.

As like before, Billy could not speak. His face began turning purple under the pressure of Tommy's hands. The strength in Billy's hands faded. His vision darkened as his eyes began rolling into his sockets.

"Release him, now!" Sean commanded from behind.

Tommy turned around. At the sight of Sean, his eyes opened in surprise. Yet he still kept his hand clenched around Billy's throat.

"Where did you get that costume?" Tommy asked in surprise.

"I said, 'release him'!" Sean replied, removing the dragon dagger from its harness. Taking aim, he fired a thin electrical burst from its tip at Tommy, hurling him backwards and releasing Billy.

Gasping and coughing, Billy collapsed. "Thank you, Sean," he panted.

Sean nodded as the golden outline of a strange bird that was a cross between a swan and an eagle emerged from his body while giving a melodious cry. It vaporized instantly after his suit disappeared in a shimmering green flash. He crept towards Tommy.

"Is he alright?" Billy asked, getting to his feet while gingerly rubbing his neck. Two red handprints engraved in his skin.

"I only stunned him," Sean answered nearing Tommy's feet.

Tommy opened his eyes and scrambled to his feet, panting with panic sprawled over his face. "The two of you are allies in this!" he asked.

"Allies in what?" Billy asked, limping to Sean's side.

"His mind is being controlled," Sean said, eying Tommy unblinkingly.

"No, it is not!" Tommy yelled, executing a spinning hook kick at Sean. Strangely, before he could make contact with Sean, he was thrown backwards, as if he had just been hit by a battering ram. Tommy shook his head like a dog. Had he just been thrown? But he never touched me, he thought.

"I did not do anything, Tommy," Sean said calmly, holding his hands at his side.

"I did," Billy said in a raspy voice.

"Traitor!" Tommy snarled, advancing towards Billy. "You're going to pay for what you did to them." He gestured at the other former rangers.

"We didn't do this," Billy said, massaging his neck. "Rita and Zedd did it."

"You're lying!" Tommy said, the madness returning once more. "Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa don't exist anymore!"

"Can you restrain him, Billy?" Sean asked, keeping his focus on Tommy.

Still panting, Billy nodded. It was hard for him to talk. Tilting his head, he telekinetically lifted Tommy and pinned him onto the wall of the Academy in midair with incredible speed and force.

"You have to listen to us," Billy pleaded.

"Why should I?" Tommy snapped.

"If you don't listen to us, we will die, and the universe will be conquered," Billy answered.

"By you," Tommy replied.

"Whether you like it or not, you are going to listen to us," Sean said, taking a few steps forward.

Billy nodded in agreement, while still keeping Tommy in the air.

Sean reached out with his mind to punch through the confusion that swelled within Tommy. As he suspected, the influence was impenetrable.

Time for a new approach, Sean thought. "Let go of your rage, Tommy," he persuaded. "This is not who you are. Power Rangers do not seek vengeance."

"You're one to speak," Tommy scowled at Sean.

"There is no such thing as an evil Power Ranger," Sean said. "You above all should know that. The only reason you stole the Sword of Power was because you were under Lord Zedd's control. Think about when Billy was under the Dramole's spell. Think of Catherine."

As he spoke, Sean sensed Tommy struggle against the influence over his mind. They were breaking through!

"Sean and I need you, Tommy," Billy asked. "Come back, please."

After a little while, something in Tommy's brain was starting to click but that wasn't all. Something deep within Tommy was fighting to the surface.

Pain gripped his inner core. He shuddered and groaned as an inner white light, like a star, blazed through his skin and he let out a yell. Tommy's body hung limp in midair.

"What was that?" Billy asked, completely flabbergasted. Loosening his hold on Tommy but not releasing him, he darted his gaze on Sean. "Did you cause that?"

"No," Sean replied, surprise marking his face. "That was him completely. Let him down."

"What was controlling his mind?" Billy asked as he lowered Tommy to the ground but the look of momentary anger on Sean's face told him who it was.

A second later, the anger was gone, replaced by compassion as he knelt before Tommy.

The veteran ranger started coming around; however it was hard to keep his focus. Remorse filled him. "What have I done?" Tommy asked. "I had no right to attack you."

"You had no control over yourself," Sean said compassionately. "It wasn't your fault. Billy, would you go check on the others? Rita and Zedd used their staffs to put them in some kind of limbo." Sean helped Tommy up and they headed to the others.

"How are they, Billy?" Sean asked.

"They're coming around," Billy said.

Throughout the argument, the others had been still as statues but as soon as Tommy recovered, they began to stir with confused looks on their faces.

"That was weird," Kimberly said.

"I know what you mean," Adam said. "We couldn't move."

"I'm glad to see you guys are better," Billy said to them all.

"I thought you were holding us," Zack said.

"I'm not that powerful," Billy commented with a smile. "Besides, even if I could, why would I? You're my friends."

"You have definitely improved a lot since you discovered your telekinetic power," Sean said as he and Tommy approached Billy.

Kimberly had to blink when she saw Sean's face. Call it woman's intuition but there was something about that scar and Sean's eyes that concerned her.

On the other hand, Trini thought Sean was handsome and she admired his scar. There was something familiar about Sean's face that she couldn't quite place. Perhaps Jason would recognize him. She lowered her head a little as she wondered where her husband was. Shaking it off, she focused on what everyone else was discussing. She had worried for long enough, and it was time for some answers.

"Not that this is fascinating," Tommy began, "But can be get back to business?" He turned to Sean. "Such as who you are?"

Sean met Tommy's gaze. "My name is Sean. I am the Green Ninjetti Ranger, a lifelong friend to Zordon, and am honored to meet you." He stretched out his hand for Tommy to shake and Tommy did. "Dulcea never mentioned me while you were on Phaedos?"

The former rangers (aside from Billy) stood at amazement, some shaking their heads. As Sean shook each of their hands, they had trouble finding their voices. Standing before them was a real Ninjetti ranger.

"You knew Zordon and Dulcea?" Kimberly asked when she shook Sean's hand.

"They never said anything about a new ranger," Zack said.

"Of course I knew Zordon and Dulcea," Sean replied. "Duclea is a close friend. And actually, Zack I have been a ranger long before you became one, Zack."

"Why didn't you show yourself when we became rangers?" Trini asked.

"It wasn't my time to introduce myself," Sean said. "Besides, back then, I was not allowed to help any of you in any of your battles. However, I think you have more things to worry about then my past."

"Like what?" Adam asked.

"Like the fact that one of your friends and a former ranger chose to become evil," Sean suggested, "Or the fact that I was just fighting Goldar and Scorpina?"

"So that's why you were late," Billy said and Sean nodded again.

"Did you just say you were being held up by Goldar and Scorpina?" Tommy asked.

"Yes, I did," Sean answered.

"Who brought them back?" Tommy asked. "I thought they were dead."

"The same person you and Billy were discussing before I arrived," Sean answered.

Tommy looked as if he had been hit in the gut by a bag of bricks. "It can't be," Tommy said, shaking his head in horror. "… How…?" Speaking was difficult.

"Accept it, Tommy, even though it is difficult," Sean said, looking him in the eye. "Jason chose to become evil."

Trini's eyes widened as she grasped her trembling heart with a hand, no sound escaping from her mouth. Surely she had misheard what Sean had said.